Manny Machado recorded his 1,000th hit as a member of the San Diego Padres in the top of the sixth inning. His hit in the top of the seventh inning was also memorable. It allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. to score and gave the Padres a 4-3 lead over the Minnesota Twins en route to a 12-3 victory at Target Field, Saturday.
Ryan O’Hearn followed Machado and recorded the fourth consecutive
single of the inning with a line drive into left-center field that allowed Luis Arraez to score to put San Diego up, 5-3.
After a pitching change, Ramón Laureano flied out to shortstop for the first out of the inning. Gavin Sheets came through with his second hit of the game on a line drive to right field and that allowed Machado to score to give the Padres a 6-3 lead.
Jose Iglesias hit a deep fly to left field that was caught at the wall by James Outman for the second out of the inning. Jake Cronenworth stepped up and hit a ball to the left field wall as well. Outman tried to make the catch, but crashed into the wall and the ball ricocheted off the wall and toward center field. Two runs scored and San Diego had a commanding 8-3 lead.
Elias Diaz delivered the critical blow of the inning when he cleared the bases with a two-out, two-run home run to left field that pushed the Padres in front, 10-3. For Diaz, it was his second home run of the game. His first came on the first pitch of his at-bat in the top of the fifth inning and tied the game, 1-1.
San Diego did not settle with 10 runs. In the top of the eighth inning the Padres pushed the lead to 12-3 after O’Hearn hit a leadoff single and Laureano followed with a two-run home run to left-center field.
It should be noted San Diego was held without a hit through 4 2/3 innings before the offense woke up and went on to score 12 runs in four innings.
Nick Pivetta was the starting pitcher for the Padres and completed five innings. He allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
San Diego will play the rubber game against the Twins, Sunday at 10:05 a.m.
